Story Writing samples

Sample stories:

1.The Fox and the Crow

A Fox once saw a Crow fly off with a piece of cheese in its 

beak and settle on a branch of a tree. ‘That’s for me, as I 

am a Fox,’ said Master Reynard, and he walked up to the 

foot of the tree. ‘Good-day, Mistress Crow,’ he cried. ‘How 

well you are looking to-day: how glossy your feathers; how 

bright your eye. I feel sure your voice must surpass that of 

other birds, just as your figure does; let me hear but one 

song from you that I may greet you as the Queen of Birds.’ 

The Crow lifted up her head and began to caw her best, but 

the moment she opened her mouth the piece of cheese fell 

to the ground, only to be snapped up by Master Fox. ‘That 

will do,’ said he. ‘That was all I wanted. In exchange for your 

cheese I will give you a piece of advice for the future .’

'Do not trust flatterers.’

2.The Fox and the Stork

At one time the Fox and the Stork were on visiting terms 

and seemed very good friends. So the Fox invited the Stork 

to dinner, and for a joke put nothing before her but some 

soup in a very shallow dish. This the Fox could easily lap 

up, but the Stork could only wet the end of her long bill in it, 

and left the meal as hungry as when she began. ‘I am sorry,’ 

said the Fox, ‘the soup is not to your liking.’

‘Pray do not apologise,’ said the Stork. ‘I hope you will 

return this visit, and come and dine with me soon.’ So a 

day was appointed when the Fox should visit the Stork; but 

when they were seated at table all that was for their din-

ner was contained in a very long-necked jar with a narrow 

mouth, in which the Fox could not insert his snout, so all he 

could manage to do was to lick the outside of the jar.

‘I will not apologise for the dinner,’ said the Stork:

‘One bad turn deserves another.’

3.The Frog and the Ox

‘Oh Father,’ said a little Frog to the big one sitting by the side 

of a pool, ‘I have seen such a terrible monster! It was as big 

as a mountain, with horns on its head, and a long tail, and 

it had hoofs divided in two.’

‘Tush, child, tush,’ said the old Frog, ‘that was only Farm-

er White’s Ox. It isn’t so big either; he may be a little bit 

taller than I, but I could easily make myself quite as broad; 

just you see.’ So he blew himself out, and blew himself out, 

and blew himself out. ‘Was he as big as that?’ asked he.

‘Oh, much bigger than that,’ said the young Frog.

Again the old one blew himself out, and asked the young 

one if the Ox was as big as that.

‘Bigger, father, bigger,’ was the reply.

So the Frog took a deep breath, and blew and blew and 

blew, and swelled and swelled and swelled. And then he 

said: ‘I’m sure the Ox is not as big asBut at this moment he 

burst'.

Self-conceit may lead to self-destruction.

4.The Bat, the Birds, and the Beasts

A great conflict was about to come off between the Birds 

and the Beasts. When the two armies were collected togeth-

er the Bat hesitated which to join. The Birds that passed his 

perch said: ‘Come with us”; but he said: ‘I am a Beast.’ Later 

on, some Beasts who were passing underneath him looked 

up and said: ‘Come with us”; but he said: ‘I am a Bird.’ Luck-

ily at the last moment peace was made, and no battle took 

place, so the Bat came to the Birds and wished to join in the 

rejoicings, but they all turned against him and he had to fly 

away. He then went to the Beasts, but soon had to beat a re-

treat, or else they would have torn him to pieces. ‘Ah,’ said 

the Bat, ‘I see now,

‘He that is neither one thing nor the other has no friends.'

5.The Hart and the Hunter

The Hart was once drinking from a pool and admiring the 

noble figure he made there. ‘Ah,’ said he, ‘where can you see 

such noble horns as these, with such antlers! I wish I had 

legs more worthy to bear such a noble crown; it is a pity they 

are so slim and slight.’ At that moment a Hunter approached 

and sent an arrow whistling after him. Away bounded the 

Hart, and soon, by the aid of his nimble legs, was nearly out 

of sight of the Hunter; but not noticing where he was go-

ing, he passed under some trees with branches growing low 

down in which his antlers were caught, so that the Hunter 

had time to come up. ‘Alas! alas!’ cried the Hart:

‘We often despise what is most useful to us.’